British Set to Invade Gettysburg, but for Purely Musical Reasons

(5/19) The stage is set in Gettysburg for yet another invasion – a British musical invasion - and it’s coming this summer. 2011’s International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival in Gettysburg will be the largest and most comprehensive event in North America celebrating the works of British lyricist W. S. Gilbert and composer Arthur Sullivan. The Festival returns for a second year with an expanded program of the duo’scomic operas, complemented by plays, recitals, and educational seminars.

Opening Friday, June 24, and running through Sunday, July 3, the Festival will offer mainstage performances f eight of the Gilbert & Sullivan comic operas within a 10-day period, including The Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, and HMS Pinafore. There will also be a Grand Opening Victorian Concert Spectacular, an evening of three one-act operas, and a week-long fringe festival program featuring plays, recitals, and an educational symposium called "Papers, Presentations, and Patter: A Savoyard’s Symposium."

All performances, events and presentations take place in the historic, beautifully restored, and accessible Majestic Theater at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center in downtown Gettysburg.

Three British performing companies will be participating: London-based Charles Court Opera, Trent Opera Company, and The Nomads from Buxton. Shows will also be presented by leading American Gilbert & Sullivan performing groups from Maryland, Maine, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

In addition, two festival productions will be presented, with performers having just one week to rehearse and stage a complete show. The first is The Pirates of Penzance, featuring a cast of adult professional, semiprofessional, and talented amateur players. The other is a special youth version of The Mikado, which will feature young performers ages 9-19 from the United States and England both on stage and in the orchestra.

The Mikado, from 2010 Festival, by Derby Opera Co.

Tickets are available through the Majestic box office by phoning 717-337-8200, or online atwww.gettysburgmajestic.org. Hotel and ticket packages are available. For more information, please visit the official Festival website, www.gsfestivals.org.

The International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival - Gettysburg is the North American affiliate of the world-famous Gilbert & Sullivan Festival of Buxton, England, founded by Ian Smith in 1994. Each year the three week-long festival draws tens of thousands of fans and performing groups from England, America, and worldwide.

The theatrical team of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan collaborated on 14 operas during a 25 year period from 1871 to 1896. These works constitute the most frequently performed series of operas in history, some having been in near continous production since their premieres.

For additional information, photos, or to schedule an interview and/or photo/video op, please contact Rich Wiley as above.

Interviews can be arranged with Festival Artistic Director Ian Smith, leading Gilbert & Sullivan scholar Ralph MacPhail Jr., author Carolyn Williams, and selected performers.

Read other articles on Gettysburg